Avondale Branch, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio - Carnegie Library Buildings on Waymarking.com

Although earlier subscription services existed, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County considers March 14, 1853 as their official birthday, and recently celebrated their sesquicentennial. Two downtown buildings have served as the main library, and the system today has 41 branch libraries. Carnegie funds financed 9 branches built between 1905 and 1915. Today, seven of the nine are still in use. The former Columbia-Tusculum branch is now in use as a community center, and the former West End branch was demolished in 1947.

The Avondale branch, like Price Hill, was designed by local architects Garber and Woodward; however, the two branches are very dissimilar in appearance. The white Spanish Colonial building with red tile roof is striking in its own right, but the ornate entrance is an eye-catcher. The entrance is decorated with intricately detailed Rookwood tile. Each side panel lists names of famous authors; above the door, the inscription reads “AVONDALE BRANCH LIBRARY”. Tucked in the corner between “branch” and “library” is a relief of a small book, which reads “Garber & Woodward Architects”, and the 1911 construction date is expressed at the bottom of the right side in Roman numerals. Overhead, the entrance is decorated with blue and buff tiles. All the Rookwood tiling is handmade. Inside, the building boasts a large rotunda over the circulation desk, a fireplace, and Flemish oak woodwork. Work was being done to maintain the entryway tiling on the day i visited.

References:
Armentrout, Mary Ellen. Carnegie Libraries of Ohio
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Avondale Branch
Carnegie Branches of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Library on flickr

Address of Library Building: 3566 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio USA 45229 Current Use of Building: library Year Built (optional): 1911 Website about building: [Web Link]

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